PRINTER'S NO. 907
No. 67 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY LOEPER, JUBELIRER, ROBBINS, THOMPSON, BRIGHTBILL,
TILGHMAN, MADIGAN, WENGER, LAVALLE, COSTA, DENT, EARLL,
O'PAKE, HELFRICK, SALVATORE, MELLOW, ARMSTRONG, FUMO,
LEMMOND, WAGNER, GERLACH, HART, WOZNIAK, SCHWARTZ, SLOCUM,
PICCOLA, PUNT, BELL, WAUGH, KASUNIC, TOMLINSON, MUSTO, BELAN,
RHOADES, WHITE, BOSCOLA, BODACK, CORMAN, CONTI, GREENLEAF,
HOLL, MOWERY, MURPHY, STAPLETON, KUKOVICH AND STOUT,
APRIL 16, 1999
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 16, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of May 10 through 16, 1999, as "Railroad
2 Safety Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Freight and passenger trains run through some of the
4 most densely populated portions of this Commonwealth; and
5 WHEREAS, An accident occurs at a railroad crossing in the
6 United States every 90 minutes; and
7 WHEREAS, There are over 90 accidents at railroad crossings in
8 Pennsylvania each year; and
9 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has over 3,500 unguarded public
10 railroad crossings, more than all but two other states; and
11 WHEREAS, An average of seven people are killed in railroad
12 crossing accidents in Pennsylvania every year; and
13 WHEREAS, In Delaware County alone, more than 80 people have
14 been killed at railroad crossings and along tracks since 1984;
15 and
1 WHEREAS, These tragic and often avoidable deaths have
2 inspired Delaware County residents to form Active People Against
3 Railroad Tragedies (APART); and
4 WHEREAS, APART has been working to limit access by
5 pedestrians to track areas, improve safety systems and educate
6 children about the dangers of railroads; and
7 WHEREAS, The Federal Railroad Administration, the
8 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Operation Lifesaver,
9 the railroad industry and railroad safety groups, including the
10 Dupage Railroad Safety Council of Hinesdale, Illinois, Hands
11 Across the Rails of Liberty Center, Ohio, Angels on the Tracks
12 of Ohio, and Protect All Crossings of Douglas, Wyoming, are
13 working with APART to improve railroad safety and to inform
14 people of all ages of the dangers near railroad operations; and
15 WHEREAS, Railroads, motor vehicle operators and pedestrians
16 can all take simple steps to reduce the likelihood of railroad-
17 vehicle and railroad-pedestrian accidents; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of May 10
19 through 16, 1999, as "Railroad Safety Week" in Pennsylvania,
20 applaud government, industry and citizen efforts to improve
21 railroad crossing safety and strongly urge all Pennsylvanians:
22 STAY OFF THE TRACKS, STAY ALERT AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS AND STAY
23 ALIVE.
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